Arsenal Secures 2-0 Victory Over Leicester as Mikel Merino Shines in Unfamiliar Role

Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal | Premier League – Matchday 25
February 15, 2025 | King Power Stadium, Leicester

Arsenal continued their strong Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City. Due to multiple injuries in the squad, manager Mikel Arteta made a bold tactical decision by deploying Mikel Merino as a forward—a move that proved decisive as the Spaniard scored both goals in the second half.

The first half ended goalless despite both teams creating opportunities. Leicester suffered an early setback when James Justin was forced off due to injury in the 43rd minute.

In the second half, Arsenal took control of the game. Leicester’s Buba Soumaré and Jordan Ayew received yellow cards early on, struggling to contain Arsenal’s midfield dominance. The breakthrough came in the 81st minute, when Merino capitalized on a precise pass to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

Merino doubled his tally just six minutes later (87′), securing the victory with a well-placed finish following an assist from Leandro Trossard.

After the match, Merino humorously commented on his unexpected heroics:
“I forgot to buy my wife a Valentine’s Day gift. These two goals are for her! She’ll appreciate them more than flowers and chocolate.”

Upcoming Matches for Arsenal

Arsenal’s next fixtures will be crucial in their Premier League and European ambitions:

• February 24, 2025 – Arsenal vs. Manchester United (Premier League)
• March 2, 2025 – Arsenal vs. Porto (UEFA Champions League, Round of 16 – Second Leg)
• March 9, 2025 – Chelsea vs. Arsenal (Premier League)

With this win, Arsenal continues their pursuit of the Premier League title, and Merino’s unexpected role might give Arteta more tactical flexibility in upcoming matches.